Caboose signal-lamp.



PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.y

witnesses; 2,

,ZZ/ZW www No. 831,273. BATBNTED SEPT. 1.8, 1.906. D. H. FLYNT. CABOOSESIGNAL LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 30, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 831,273. PATENTBD SEPT. 18, 190e. D. H. PLYNT.

CABOOSE SIGNAL LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.30,1906,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Widmann Mw@ 33M THE NoRRls PFrERs co., wAsHmcrraN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

DUDLEY H. FLYNT, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOWOOD W. WHITE, OF NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.

CABOOSE SIGNAL-LAMP.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. is, 1906.

Application filed January 30,1906. Serial No. 298,637.

To LZZ tui/bont it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUDLEY H. FLYNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska,have invented new and useful Improvements in Caboose Signal- Lamps, ofwhich the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in caboose signal-lamps.

The object of my invention is to provide a Caboose signal-lamp havingnovel means for quickly and accurately displaying forwardly orrearwardly different-colored lights.

The peculiarities of my invention are hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 isacentral vertical transverse sectional view of a portion of thecaboose-roof having mounted thereon a signal-lamp of my invention. Fig.2 is a bottom view of what is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view taken on the dotted line a b of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the dotted line c d of Fig. 1. Fig. 5is a front elevation view of the signal-lamp, part of the roof .beingshown in vertical section and part broken away, the lamp-supportingdevice beingshown in the lower position. Fig. 6 is a side elevation viewof the lamp-support shown in the horizontal position and a portion ofthe mechanism to which the lamp is attached. Fig. 7 isaverticalcross-section view of a portion of the support for the tubular frame,one of the frame-rollers being shown in elevation and mounted on saidsupport. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the dotted line efof Fig. 7.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

1 denotes a portion of the caboose-roof, and 2 two of the transverserafters thereof.

3 denotes a rectangular casing mounted on the roof and provided with anopen-lower end registering with a vertical hole 4 in the roof 1. Thecasing 3 is provided in its front and rear sides with the openings 5 and6, respectively. Rotatively mounted in the casing 3 is a vertical,tubular, cylindrical frame 7, supporting four verticallight-transmitting devices 8, 9, 10, and 11, respectively, said devicesbeing preferably of glass, the device 8 being preferably red in colorand the devices 9, 10, and 11 made of. green glass. Said colored glassesare disposed so as to register each with the openings 5 or 6 when theframe 7 is rotated to the proper positions. The frame 7 is provided withfour peripheral projections 12, on which are mounted, respectively, therollers 13, mounted upon a support comprising the following describedmechanism: 14 denotes a substantially horizontal plate secured to theunder side of the roof 1 and provided with two vertical flanges 15,secured,respectively,to the two rafters 2. The plate 14 is provided witha central opening through which the frame 7 may be inserted and is alsoprovided with a series of recesses communicating with said centralopening and adapted to be closed by a series of closures 16,respectively, comprising each a horizontal slidable plate mounted uponthe upper side of the plate 14 and provided each with anupwardly-extending iiange 17, adapted when the closures are in thepositions shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 7 to form with theupwardly-extending flanges 18 on the plate 14 an annular track uponwhich the rollers 13 may travel when the frame 7 is rotated. Secured tothe inner periphery of the frame 7 adjacent its lower end is a iatspring 19, the free end of which has secured to it a right-angled wire20, having one vertical leg and a horizontal leg adapted to enter eitherof the openings 21, provided in three of the iianges 13,. as shown inFig. 3. The horizontal portion of the right-angled wire 20 extendsthrough an opening provided therefor in the frame 7. By swinging thefree end of the spring 19 inwardly the horizontal arm of theright-angled wire 20 is released from the Harige 18, in which it isengaged, after which the frame 7 may be rotated upon itssupporting-rollers 13 to the position desired. The plates 16 areslidably mounted each between radially disposed IOO said plate is in theinner position. By pulling downward the free ends of the springs 25 thepins 26 may be withdrawn downward to a position in which the plates 16may be retracted, together with their fianges 17, to the positionindicated in dottedlines in Fig. 7, in which position the rollers 13will pass through the recesses normally closed by the plates 16, thuspermitting the frame? to be inserted into or withdrawn from the casing3.

27 denotes the cylindrical lamp-reservoir, mounted centrally in thecasing within the frame 7 and in a position such that the burner 28 willbe disposed between the openings 5 and 6.

. 29 denotes a flap comprising, preferably, a metal plate hinged at oneedge by means of a plate 30 to the under side of the plate 14. The plate29 is provided at its inner end with an upwardly-extending curved flange3 1, partially encircling the lamp-reservoir 27 and having hinged to itat one end a curved plate 32, which encircles the opposite side of thereservoir 27. The free ends of the plate 32 and the flange 31 arereleasably secured together by means of a bolt 33, extending throughsaid flange and plate and having mounted thereon a securing-nut 34. Theplate 29 is secured in the horizontal position by means of twoturnbuckles 35, rotatively mounted on the under side of the plate 14 andadapted to be turned, as shown in Fig. 2,

to a position in which they will engage and lock the plate 29 in thehorizontal position. Diametrically opposite sides of the plate 32 areprovided with vertical slots 36, extending upwardly from the lower edgeof said plate and provided each with a horizontal recess 37. Thereservoir 27 of the lamp is provided on diametrically opposite sideswith pins 38, adapted to be slipped upwardly in the slots 36 andlaterally into the recesses 37, so as to support the lamp.

The burner 28 is mounted in a horizontal barrel 39, having its two endsclosed, respectively, by the two lenses 40, disposed, respectively, inaXial alinement with the openings 5 and 6. The barrel 39 is provided inits upper end with a chimney 40', which chimvney discharges the productsof combustion through a vertical opening 41 in the top of the casing 3.Suitable housings 42 and 43 of any desired construction are employed toprotect the inner and outer portions of the casing, respectively, fromthe products of combustion passing from the chimney 40. The housing 42is tubular in form and has its upper end secured to the under side ofthe top of the casing and encircling the chimney 40 and opening 41. Thehousing 43 is mounted upon the top of the casing encircling the opening41 and is closed at its upper end, the lower end being open andregistering with the opening 41. Peripheral holes 44 are provided in thehousing 43 to permit the escape of the products of combustion. The lowerside of the barrel 39 is provided with a vertical tubular extension 46,adapted to be inserted between the plate 32 and the flange 31. Thetubular extension 46 is provided with two diametrically opposite slots47, eX- tending upwardly from the lower edge of the extension and havingeach a lateral recess 48. When the parts are in the position shown inFig. 1, the slots 36 and 47 andrecesses 37 and V48 register with eachother, so that the lam reservoir 27 may be slipped upwardly to t eposition shown in Fig. 1, in which position the pins 38 will be locatedin the recesses 37 and 48.

In operating my invention, the parts having been assembled as shown inFig. 1, when it is desired to change the signals the vertical arm of thelright-angled wire 2O is swung inwardly, together with the free end ofthe spring 19, after which the frame 7 may be swung to a position inwhich the proper colored glasses will be interposed between'the openings5 and 6. To remove the lamp for the purpose of filling the reservoirwith oil, the reservoir is turned to the left until the pins 38 are inalinement with the slots 36 and 47 ,-a'lter which the reservoir may bewithdrawn. If it is desired for any reason to remove the frame 7, thelamp is first removed, after which `the nut 34 is removed from the bolt33, the bolt 33 is withdrawn, and the plate 32 swung so as to clear theextension 46. The turnbuckles 35 are then turned, so as to permit theplate 29 to be swung to the position shown in Fig. 5. The barrel 39 maynow be removed. The plates 16 are then withdrawn outwardly, the springs25 being depressed for that purpose, and the frame 7 is then turneduntil the rollers 13 register with the recesses normally covered by theplate 16, in which position the frame 7 may be withdrawn.

Various modifications of my invention may be made without departing fromits spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isl '1. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combinationwith a lamp, 'of a rotary tubular frame encircling the lamp and having aplurality of peripheral light-transmitting devices of different colorsand providedwith a plurality of peripheral supporting devices, a supportfor the frame having an opening through which the frame is insertibleand provided with a Aplurality of recesses for admitting therethroughsaid peripheral supporting devices, and means for closing said recessesso as to form with the support a continuous track upon which thesupporting devices may travel in a circle.

2. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a lamp, of a rotarytubular frame encircling the lamp and lhaving a plurality of IOO IOS

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peripheral light-transmitting devices of different colors and providedwith a plurality of peripheral supporting devices, a support for theframe having an opening through which the frame is insertible andprovided with a plurality of recesses for admitting therethrough saidperipheral supporting devices, means for closing said recesses so as toform a continuous track upon Which the supporting devices may travelWhen the frame is rotated, and releasable means for locking the frame indifferent positions upon the support.

3. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a lamp, of a rotarytubular lighttransmitting frame encircling the lamp and having aplurality of peripheral supporting devices, a support having an openingthrough Which the frame is insertible and having a plurality of recessesfor admitting therethrough said peripheral supporting devices7 means forclosing said recesses so as to form with the support a track upon whichsaid devices may travel when the frame is rotated, a support for thelamp movable to and from a position partly bridging said opening, andreleasable means for locking the lamp-su port in a position supportingthe lamp` axial y in said frame.

4. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination With a rotary tubularlight-transmitting frame having a plurality of peripheral supportingdevices, of a support having an open-- ing through Which the frame isinsertible and having a plurality of'recesses disposed so as to admittherethrough respectively said peripheral supporting devices, means forclosing said recesses so as to form a continuous track upon which saiddevices may travel, and releasable means for locking the frame indifferent positions upon said support.

5. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a rotary tubularlight-transmitting frame having a plurality of peripheralsupporting-rollers, of a support having an opening through which theframe is insertible and having a plurality of recesses disposed so as toadmit therethrough said rollers-respectively, means for closing saidrecesses, and means for releasably locking the frame in differentpositions on said support.

6. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a rotary tubular framecarrying a plurality of light-transmitting devices, and having aplurality of peripheral supporting devices, of a support having an oening through Which the Jframe is insertib e and having a plurality ofrecesses disposed so as to admit therethrough respectively saidperipheral supporting devices, and a plurality of slidable closures Jforclosing said recesses and forming With said support a track upon Whichthe supporting devices may travel when the frame is rotated.

7. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination With a rotary tubular framehaving a plurality of peripheral light-transmitting devices and having aplurality of peripheral supporting devices, of a support having anopening through which the frame is insertible and having a plurality ofrecesses disposed so as to admit therethrough said peripheral suportingdevices respectively, a plurality of slidable closures for covering saidrecesses s o as to form with said support a track upon which saiddevices may travel when the frame is rotated, and releasable means forlocking the `iframe indifferent positions upon said support. f

8. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination With a rotary tubular framehaving a plurality of peripheral light-transmitting devices and having aplurality of peripheral `supporting-rollers,ofa support having anopening through Which the frame is insertible and having a plurality ofrecesses disposed so as to admit therethrough said rollers respectively,slidable closures for covering sai recesses so as to form with saidsupport a track upon Which the rollers may travel, and releasable meansfor locking the frame in difp ferent positions upon the support.

9. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a rotary tubular framecarrying a plurality of light-transmitting devices and having aplurality of peripheral supportingrollers, of a support having anopening through which the frame is insertible and provided With anupwardly-extending annular track encircling said opening, said trackhaving a plurality of inwardly and outwardly movable segments which,When moved to the outer position, form recesses for admittingtherethrough the said rollers respectively, and When moved to the innerposition, complete the track upon Which the rollers may travel in acircle, releasable means for locking the frame indifferent positionsupon said support, and releasable means for locking the track-segmentsin the inner positions.

10. Ina caboose signal-lamp, the combination With a support havingavertical opening, of a lamp-support hinged to said support and movableto and from ahorizontal position, said lamp support being `provided Withmeans for retaining said lamp in the center of said openingwhen the lam-support is horizontally disposed, releasab e means for locking thelamp-sup ort in the horizontal position, a rotary tu 'ular'frame adaptedto encircle the lam When the lamp-support is in the horizonta position,said frame having a plurality of peripheral light-transmitting devicesand provided With peripheral supports adapted Vto rest upon thefirst-named support, said first-named support being provided with aplurality of recesses communicating With said opening for admittingtherethrough said peripheral supports, and means for closing IOO saidrecesses so as to form with said supports a track upon which saidsupporting devices may travel when the frame is rotated.

11. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a support having anopening, of a flap hinged to said su port so as to swing to and from ahorizonta position and provided with means for supporting, when in thehorizontal osition, a lamp centrally in said opening, re easable meansfor locking the ilap in the horizontal position, a frame encircling thelamp and rotatively mounted on said `support and provided with aplurality of perlpheral light-transmitting devices, and a lamp carriedby said flap and disposed so as to have its light shine through saidtransmitting devices.

12. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combina-` tion with a support havingan annular track and an opening encircled by said track, of a lampdisposed centrally in said`opening, a rotary frame encircling said lampand provided with a plurality of peripheral li ht-transmitting devices,a plurality of rol ers mounted on said track and supporting said frame,and releasable means for locking the frame in different positionsrelative to said support.

13. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a easing having' anopen lower end and front and rear openings, of a lamp dis-v posed insaid casing so asto have its light shine throu h said front and rearopenings, a rotary tubu ar frame encircling said lamp and rotatablearound said lamp in said casing and provided with a plurality ofperipheral lightn transmitting devices disposed, so that when the frameis rotated, the light-transmitting devices may be interposed between thelamp and the front and rear openings, and releasable means for lockingthe frame in different positions.

14. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with a casing having frontand rear openings and an open lower end, of a rotary tubular framehaving a plurality of light-trans mitting devices so disposed that thesaid devices may beregistered consecutively with the front and rearopenings when the frame is rotated to different positionsin the casing,releasable means for locking the frame in said different positions, alamp adapted to be disposed centrally in said frame between said frontand rear openings, a swinging support for said lamp and upon which saidlamp may be swung out of said frame through the open end of the casing,and releasable means for locking the support in a position in which thelamp is dis osed between the front and rear openings o the casing.

15. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combinay tion with the oabooseroofhaving la vertical opening, of a casing mounted on said roof and havingan open end registering with the opening in the roof and provided withfront and rear openings, a lamp located in said casT ing between thefront and rear openings thereof, a rotary tubular frame in said casingand encircling said lamp and provided with a plurality oflight-transmitting devices so disposed that when the frame is rotatedeach of said devices maybe made to register consecutively with saidfront or rear openings, and releasable means for locking the frame indifferent ositions in said casing. 16. n a caboose signal-lamp, thecombination with the caboose-roof having a vertical opening, of a casinghaving an open lower end registering with said opening and provided withfront and rear openings, a lamp located in the casing between the frontand rear openings and insertible in the casing through the opening inthe roof, a rotary tubular frame encircling said lamp and rotatable insaid casing to three different positions and carrying three green andonered glasses disposed so that each may be interposed between the lamp andthe front or rear openings, and releasable means for locking said framein either of said three positions.

17. In a caboose signal-lamp, the combination with the caboose-roofhaving a vertical opening, of a casing having front and rear openingsand mounted on said roof and provided with an open lower end registeringwith the opening 1n the roof, a tubular frame rotative in the casing tothree different positions and provided with three green and one redglasses disposed so as to register each with either said front or rearopening when the frame is rotated to the proper position, said framebeing provided with a plurality of peripheral rollers, a support securedto the under side of said roof and provided with an o ening throughwhich the frame is insertible and having a plurality of recessescommunicating with said openin for admitting therethrough the peripheralro lers, means for closing said recesses, releasable means for lockingsaid frame in said three positions, a lamp adapted to be disposedbetween said front and rear openings of the casing and located centrallyin the frame, and a support for said lamp.

In testimonyA whereof I afliX my signature in presence of twosubscribing witnesses,

DUDLEY H. FLYNT.

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